EU Flag

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the legal status of the European Union flag; and whether in order to fly it on public or other buildings it is necessary to have a local authority licence or other authority.

Baroness Amos: The flying of the EU flag in the UK is controlled under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992 and for this purpose the flag is classified as an "outdoor advertisement".
	Government buildings benefit from Crown immunity. In order to fly the EU flag from other buildings the express consent of the local planning authority is required.

Black Sea and Adriatic: Land Communications

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the context of the South-East Europe Stability Pact and the Prime Minister's recent remarks on migration in Europe, they can report progress on improving land communications between the Black Sea and the Adriatic, or on an oil bypass for the Bosphorus and Dardanelles; and when they expect improvements to come into use.

Baroness Amos: Land communications between the Black Sea and the Adriatic are being improved largely through the Corridor VIII road and rail project to link Burgas (Bulgaria) and Durres (Albania). Some work on the various elements of the corridor is under way but we understand that there are differences between some states of the region over rail routes and prioritisation of component projects. We hope that the parties involved will soon approve a memorandum of understanding to enable the work to accelerate.
	A number of projects involving oil pipelines which would bypass the Bosphorus are under consideration. The two most advanced proposals are (a) a pipeline from Burgas via Macedonia to Vlore (Albania) on the Adriatic coast and (b) a pipeline from Burgas with Alexandropoulis (Greece) on the Aegean Sea coast. We understand that no firm decision has been made with regard to construction of either.

Turkey and Iraq

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they can confirm reports from France and Germany that heavily armed Turkish military forces crossed the frontier into Iraq on 16 May, killed and wounded some civilians and arrested others, who were then subjected to torture; whether NATO was informed of any such operations; and, in any case, what is their response.

Baroness Amos: We cannot confirm the reports cited by the noble Lord; nor have we received other reports suggesting a major incident of that kind. We continue to monitor the situation closely and to raise our concerns where appropriate.

Convention on the Future of Europe

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to set up fora within the United Kingdom to engender and encourage discussion relating to the Convention on the Future of Europe as envisaged and recommended on page 33 of the first progress report from the United Kingdom representatives to the convention; if so, what form these fora will take; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Amos: The convention recommends that member states organise forums for civil society to discuss the future of Europe. In line with the Government's efforts to bring Europe closer to the people, we are encouraging local and regional governments, think tanks and other public organisations to engage in this debate. There will also be a web-based discussion and direct contact with citizens during ministerial visits across the country.

Inter-Congolese Dialogue

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What material assistance they have provided to facilitate the Inter-Congolese Dialogue; and with what tangible results.

Baroness Amos: The UK has provided substantial financial assistance of £525,000 and an expert to work with the talks facilitator, former President of Botswana, Sir Ketumile Masire. As a result of the dialogue, for the first time in almost 30 years a large representation of Congolese society have come together to discuss arrangements for a democratic government in the DRC. We welcome the progress that was made during these discussions and continue to work with all the parties to conclude arrangements for an inclusive transitional government which will lead to peace in the country for the first time for many years.

Inter-Congolese Dialogue

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they intend to support the United Nations peace-keeping force in the eastern Congo during the coming year; what is the strength of that force; how many casualties it has suffered; and how it will be expanded.

Baroness Amos: In addition to political and financial support, the UK is providing six military personnel to the United Nations Mission in the DRC. The mandated strength of the UN force is 5,537, of which 3,633 are deployed in theatre. There have been six fatalities since the mission was established in November 1999. The force can only be expanded on the recommendation of the Secretary General and with the agreement of the Security Council. There are no plans to do so at present.

Inter-Congolese Dialogue

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What foreign armies are operating in the areas of the eastern Congo monitored by the United Nations; and what is the estimated strength of those forces.

Baroness Amos: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe and Angola still have troops in eastern DRC. The estimated strength of these forces is 4,000, 20,000–30,000, 1,500, 8,000 and 1,000 respectively.

European Union: Forthcoming Council Business

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for June, and what are the major European Union Events for the period between 1 July and November 2002.

Baroness Amos: See attached.
	4 June—ECOFIN—Brussels
	1. Adoption of the agenda
	2. (poss) Approval of the list of "A" items
	3. Preparation of the Seville European Council
	— Council report on Broad Economic Policy and Guidelines
	— Council report on administrative co-operation in tax matters.
	4. (poss) Recasting of the Financial Regulation
	5. Macro-financial assistance
	— Policy debate
	6. Directive on prospectuses
	— Policy debate
	7. (poss) Directive on Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision
	— Political agreement
	8. Sixth half-yearly Commission report on the Financial Services Action Plan
	9. Tax Matters
	— Tax Package
	— Savings taxation
	— Report on dependent or associated territories
	— Report on negotiations with third States
	— Code of Conduct: progress report
	— (poss) Taxation of biofuels
	— Political agreement
	— (poss) Energy taxation
	— Administrative co-operation in tax matters
	— Council conclusions
	— VAT treatment of cross-border motor vehicle leasing
	10. Methods of evaluating output gaps
	11. Advantages of the different types of pension schemes
	12. Other business
	6–7 June—Industry and Energy Council—Brussels
	1. Approval of provisional agenda
	2. (poss) Approval of the list of "A" items
	3. Competitiveness and enterprise policy in the EU
	(a) — Commission communication "Productivity: the key to competitiveness"
	— Annual Commission report on competitiveness (2002)
	— Presentation by the Commission and discussion
	— Council conclusions
	(b) — Communication from the Commission on the impact of the e-Economy on European businesses: economic analysis and political implications 14748/01 ECO 367
	— Council conclusions
	(c) — Report on the European Charter for Small Enterprises; Follow-up to the Barcelona European Council on 15 and 16 March 2002
	— Presidency briefing 6125/02 ECO 38
	4. Sustainable development
	(a) Strategy for chemicals
	— Commission briefing
	(b) Contribution of enterprise policy to sustainable development
	— Discussion
	— Council conclusions
	5. Steel
	(c) Expiry of the ECSC Treaty
	— Commission briefing
	(d) Situation on the world steel market
	— Commission briefing
	6. (poss) Shipbuilding
	(e) Fifth report from the Commission to the Council on the situation in world shipbuilding
	— Presentation by the Commission 8689/02 RC 6
	(b) Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning a temporary defensive mechanism in shipbuilding (LA) (*)
	(Articles 87(3) and 89 of the Treaty) 11335/01 RC 14 WTO 83
	7. Competition
	(f) Proposal for a Council Regulation on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty and amending Regulations (EEC) No 1017/68, (EEC) No 2988/74, (EEC) No 4056/86 and (EEC) No 3975/87
	— Progress report
	(g) XXXIst Commission Report on Competition Policy 2001
	— Presentation by the Commission
	8455/02 RC 4
	8. (poss) Reduction/re-orientation of public aid
	State-aid scoreboard—Spring 2002 edition
	— Presentation by the Commission
	9. Life sciences and biotechnology—A strategy for Europe
	— Council conclusions
	6415/02 RECH 40 ENV 103 CONSOM 14 SAN 24 DEVGEN 15 MI 31 IND 23 AGRI 43 SOC 87 RELEX 27 EDUC 30 AG 6
	10. Euromed—industrial co-operation
	— Presidency briefing on the outcome of the Ministerial Conference in Malaga on 9 and 10 April 2002 7922/02 ECO 116 MED 30
	11. G10 medicinal products
	— Report from the High-Level Working Party on innovation and the supply of medicinal products
	— Commission briefing
	ENERGY (7 June 2002)
	12. Proposal for a Council Regulation on State aid to the coal industry after the expiry of the ECSC Treaty (LA) (*)
	(Articles 87 and 89 TEC)
	— Political agreement
	13. Internal market in electricity and gas
	(h) Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 96/92/EC and 98/30/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and natural gas (LA) (*)
	(Article 95 TEC)
	— Political agreement
	(i) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity (LA)
	(Article 95 TEC)
	— Progress report
	14. Proposal for an amendment to the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision 1254/96/EC laying down a series of guidelines for trans-European energy networks (LA)
	(Article 196 TEC)
	— General approach
	15. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of biofuels for transport (LA)
	(Article 175 TEC)
	— General approach
	16. Energy Charter
	— Progress report
	17. Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a multiannual programme for action in the field of energy: "Intelligent Energy for Europe" Programme (2003–06) (LA)
	(Article 175 TEC)
	— Presentation by the Commission
	18. Security of energy supply
	— Commission briefing on follow-up to consultations on the Green Paper on security of supply
	19. Other business
	Other business
	3—Brussels—Employment and Social Affairs Council
	3—Brussels—Eurogroup (Evening)
	4—Brussels—ECOFIN
	6–7—Brussels—Convention on the Future of Europe—Plenary session
	6–7—Madrid—EU-ASEM meeting (EU 15)
	6–8—Brussels—Foreign Affairs (ASEM Ministers)
	10–11—Brussels—General Affairs Council
	10–11—Brussels—Agriculture Council
	11—Brussels—Fisheries Council
	13–14—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council
	17–18—Brussels—Transport and
	Telecommunications Council
	17–18—Brussels—General Affairs Council
	21–22—Seville—European Council
	24—Brussels—General Affairs Council (Evening)
	24–25—Brussels—Convention on the Future of Europe—Plenary Session
	24–25—Brussels—Environment Council
	25—Brussels—ECOFIN
	26—Brussels—Heath Council
	The following are the principal events in the EU between 1 July and November 2002. The list is based on the information available at the date of issue.
	
		
			 Date Location Event 
			 July 
			 12–13 Kolding Meeting of Employment and Social  Policy Ministers (Informal) 
			 15–16 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 19 Brussels Budget Meeting 
			 19–21 Arhus Environment Ministers meeting  (Informal) 
			 22–23 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 August 
			 31–1 Elisnore Gymnich (Ministerial Informal) 
			 September 
			 6 Brussels ASEM Economic Ministers Meeting 
			 6–8 Copenhagen ECOFIN (Ministerial Informal) 
			 8–10 Nyborg Agriculture Council (Ministerial  Informal) 
			 12–13 Copenhagen Justice and Home Affairs Council  (Ministerial Informal) 
			 22–23 Copenhagen ASEM Meeting 
			 23–24 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 26 Brussels Internal Market, Consumer Affairs  and Tourism Council 
			 27 Tent ACP-EU Ministers Meeting 
			 30 Brussels Research Council 
			 30–1 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 October 
			 3–4 Brussels Transport and Telecommunications  Council 
			 8 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 8 Brussels Employment and Social Policy  Council 
			 14 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 14–15 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs, and Civil  Protection Council 
			 15–16 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 17 Brussels Environment Council 
			 18–19 Aalborg Internal Market, Consumer Affairs  and Industry Meeting (Ministerial  Informal) 
			 21–22 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 24–25 Brussels European Council 
			 November 
			 1 Brussels Culture Council 
			 2 Brussels ECOFIN—Troika meeting on  Macro-Economic Dialogue 
			 12 Brussels Education and Youth Council 
			 14–15 Brussels Internal Market, Consumer Affairs  and Youth Council 
			 18 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 18–19 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 19–20 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 22 Brussels Development Council 
			 25–26 Brussels Budget (Council) 
			 25–26 Brussels Industry and Energy Council 
			 28–29 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs, and Civil  Protection Council

Drug Use in Prisons

Lord Chadlington: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to reduce the level of drug use in prisons.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Prison Service Drug Strategy mirrors the Government's national strategy by seeking to reduce both the supply of drugs and the demand for them. Key elements include:
	security and deterrent measures, including mandatory drug testing (MDT);
	detoxification services, to manage the physical symptoms that arise from drug dependence, now available in all local prisons;
	a CARATs (counselling, assessment, advice, referral and throughcare) gateway service to meet the non-clinical needs of prisoners;
	50 intensive treatment programmes to meet the needs of prisoners with moderate to severe drug misuse problems and associated behavioural problems;
	voluntary drug testing to offer support to prisoners wishing to remain drug free and willing to be tested;
	a wide research programme to develop good practice.

Sexual Offences

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 14 September 2001 (WA 6), when they will announce their response to the consultation on Setting the Boundaries: Reforming the Law on Sex Offences, published in July 2001.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government are considering their response in light of the comments received and will make an announcement in due course.

Child Pornography on the Internet

Baroness Ludford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they have taken to prevent child pornography appearing on the Internet.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government are determined to tackle child pornography whether on or off line and the criminal law applies equally to both.
	The majority of child pornography is placed on servers outside the United Kingdom. However, there are effective measures to deal with it when it appears within our jurisdiction. Since its formation in 1996, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has operated a hotline to enable users to report the presence of child pornography in a newsgroup or website. If the IWF assesses the material as likely to be illegal and it is hosted on a UK server, the internet service provider (ISP) is notified by the IWF and must remove it or risk breaking the law. Over 40,000 items of child pornography have been removed in this way. Details of the site are sent to the police or, if the originator is abroad, to the enforcement agency of the country concerned via the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS).
	In January 2001, we raised the maximum penalties for taking, making, distributing or showing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children to 10 years (from three years) and the maximum penalty for simple possession of such material to five years (from six months).
	In November 2000 the then Home Secretary announced a £25 million investment in the police over three years specifically to fight hi-tech crime and to enhance the capability of the police at national and local level to investigate computer based offences, including the possession and distribution of illegal pornography.
	In March 2001, the then Home Secretary established a Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet. The task force began work in May. It is a partnership of representatives from the Internet service and communication providers; the Internet Watch Foundation; PC and software retailers and manufacturers; child welfare organisations; the main Opposition parties; law enforcement agencies and academics.
	The task force is looking at proposals for legislation to tackle paedophile "grooming" activity on and off line and best practice models for providers of chat and other Internet services and computer awareness training for the police and child protection practitioners.
	Internationally, the Government are supporting efforts within the European Union and more widely to combat child pornography on the Internet. In November 2001, we signed the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime which will underpin co-operative action between signatory states in respect of computer-related crimes, including the making, distribution and possession of child pornography.

Prisons: Purposeful Activity

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide a table showing how many hours each week are allocated to purposeful activity in each of HM prisons and young offender centres for (a) remand prisoners and (b) sentenced offenders; and what improvements are planned for the coming year.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Prison Service does not collect centrally information to distinguish time spent in purposeful activity by sentenced prisoners and those on remand. The average weekly purposeful activity time for all prisoners in 2001–02 in each establishment in England and Wales is given in the table.
	Targets agreed with establishments for 2002–03 aim to increase the overall average purposeful activity time. Additional investment in regimes is intended to increase the proportion of time spent in activities which contribute to reducing crime, such as education, drug and offending behaviour work and resettlement activity.
	
		
			 Function name Prison name Purposeful hours 
			 Male local Altcourse 34.3 
			 Male local Bedford 19.8 
			 Male local Belmarsh 11.0 
			 Male local Birmingham 19.3 
			 Male local Blakenhurst 18.9 
			 Male local Bristol 21.1 
			 Male local Brixton 16.6 
			 Male local Bullingdon 13.8 
			 Male local Canterbury 18.0 
			 Male local Cardiff 20.4 
			 Male local Chelmsford 18.8 
			 Male local Doncaster 20.1 
			 Male local Dorchester 15.7 
			 Male local Durham 20.3 
			 Male local Elmley 18.6 
			 Male local Exeter 22.9 
			 Male local Forest Bank 21.7 
			 Male local Gloucester 20.5 
			 Male local High Down 15.9 
			 Male local Holme House 15.5 
			 Male local Hull 20.5 
			 Male local Leeds 18.7 
			 Male local Leicester 21.0 
			 Male local Lewes 18.6 
			 Male local Lincoln 18.6 
			 Male local Liverpool 17.7 
			 Male local Manchester 19.7 
			 Male local Norwich 18.9 
			 Male local Nottingham 17.2 
			 Male local Parc 26.8 
			 Male local Pentonville 15.0 
			 Male local Preston 21.1 
			 Male local Rochester 23.0 
			 Male local Shrewsbury 23.8 
			 Male local Swansea 22.0 
			 Male local Wandsworth 17.1 
			 Male local Winchester 19.0 
			 Male local Wolds 28.3 
			 Male local Woodhill 16.0 
			 Male local Wormwood Scrubs 18.5 
			 Dispersal Frankland 20.9 
			 Dispersal Full Sutton 17.4 
			 Dispersal Long Lartin 18.3 
			 Dispersal Wakefield 18.2 
			 Dispersal Whitemoor 20.2 
			 Category B Albany 24.2 
			 Category B Blundeston 25.8 
			 Category B Dovegate 27.5 
			 Category B Garth 23.4 
			 Category B Gartree 30.5 
			 Category B Grendon 35.6 
			 Category B Kingston 24.3 
			 Category B Lowdham Grange 27.2 
			 Category B Maidstone 21.0 
			 Category B Parkhurst 19.1 
			 Category B Rye Hill 29.4 
			 Category B Swaleside 24.3 
			 Category C Acklington 23.2 
			 Category C Ashwell 31.7 
			 Category C Buckley Hall 30.3 
			 Category C Camp Hill 21.4 
			 Category C Channings Wood 33.5 
			 Category C Coldingley 38.2 
			 Category C Dartmoor 21.6 
			 Category C Erlestoke 27.9 
			 Category C Everthorpe 28.0 
			 Category C Featherstone 24.2 
			 Category C Guys Marsh 22.6 
			 Category C Haverigg 31.1 
			 Category C Highpoint 18.9 
			 Category C Lancaster 24.8 
			 Category C Littlehey 23.1 
			 Category C Moorland 25.0 
			 Category C Mount 20.0 
			 Category C Ranby 23.6 
			 Category C Risley 25.2 
			 Category C Shepton Mallet 22.9 
			 Category C Stafford 26.4 
			 Category C Stocken 23.2 
			 Category C Usk 37.9 
			 Category C Verne 28.4 
			 Category C Wayland 20.8 
			 Category C Wealstun 32.6 
			 Category C Weare 18.8 
			 Category C Wellingborough 28.1 
			 Category C Whatton 30.6 
			 Category C Wymott 27.7 
			 Male open Ford 39.8 
			 Male open Hewell Grange 42.6 
			 Male open Hollesley Bay 36.5 
			 Male open Kirkham 43.4 
			 Male open Leyhill 37.8 
			 Male open North Sea Camp 42.2 
			 Male open Stanford Hill 39.6 
			 Male open Sudbury 41.5 
			 Male remand centre Northallerton 22.1 
			 Male closed YOI Aylesbury 17.4 
			 Male closed YOI Brinsford 27.5 
			 Male closed YOI Castington 25.1 
			 Male closed YOI Deerbolt 21.1 
			 Male closed YOI Feltham 24.7 
			 Male closed YOI Glen Parva 18.2 
			 Male closed YOI Hindley 20.5 
			 Male closed YOI Lancaster Farms 22.6 
			 Male closed YOI Onley 18.0 
			 Male closed YOI Portland 24.5 
			 Male closed YOI Reading 24.4 
			 Male closed YOI Stoke Heath 25.8 
			 Male closed YOI Swinfen Hall 28.0 
			 Male open YOI Hatfield 37.1 
			 Male open YOI Thorn Cross 43.9 
			 Male juvenile Ashfield 27.1 
			 Male juvenile Huntercombe 26.7 
			 Male juvenile Werrington 32.5 
			 Male juvenile Wetherby 27.1 
			 Female local Brockhill 18.2 
			 Female local Eastwood Park 19.4 
			 Female local Holloway 20.3 
			 Female local Low Newton 23.7 
			 Female local New Hall 22.9 
			 Female closed Bullwood Hall 27.2 
			 Female closed Cookham Wood 22.0 
			 Female closed Downview 23.7 
			 Female closed Foston Hall 25.4 
			 Female closed Send 31.4 
			 Female closed Styal 24.9 
			 Female open Askham Grange 41.1 
			 Female open East Sutton Park 42.0 
			 Semi open Blantyre House 49.0 
			 Semi open Dover 27.3 
			 Semi open Drake Hall 35.8 
			 Semi open Haslar 15.2 
			 Semi open Kirklevington 51.6 
			 Semi open Latchmere House 61.2 
			 Semi open Lindholme 27.7 
			 Semi open Morton Hall 30.7

Immigration Service: Race Relations Act 1976

Baroness Whitaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to make changes to current authorisations under Section 19D of the Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended).

Lord Filkin: We have today revoked the authorisation signed on 23 April 2001 by the then Immigration Minister (Mrs Roche) which permits immigration officers to discriminate in the examination of passengers from certain specified ethnic or national groups. We have kept this authorisation under close review in the light of intelligence assessments from the Immigration Service. After a year's experience of operating the authorisations, the Immigration Service has found it sufficient to rely on the authorisation made on 27 March 2001 which permits it to prioritise certain passengers for additional examination on the basis of their nationality. We will keep under review the possible need for further authorisations permitting discrimination on grounds of ethnic or national origin where necessary in respect of specific targeted operations.

House Buying

Lord Mackie of Benshie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plans to stop the practice of gazumping in relation to house buying in England.

Lord Rooker: The Government believe the answer to problems such as gazumping lies in increasing transparency, certainty and speed in the home buying and selling process. That is why we are committed to making it easier for people buying and selling homes through the introduction of the seller's pack. The seller's pack will provide at the very start of the transaction process key information required to enable the transaction to proceed smoothly and quickly. This should reduce significantly the period between offer acceptance to exchange of contracts, thereby reducing the window of opportunity during which problems like gazumping can occur. The necessary legislation will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Small Business Category

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by Dawn Primarolo MP, Paymaster General on 22 April (HC Debs, col. 119), whether the inclusion of a company employing 350 people in the small business category is common to departments other than that of the Paymaster General; and what are the definitions of small business used by each department of state.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There is no single definition of a small firm.
	The Small Business Service website sets out some of the various definitions at http://www.sbs.gov.uk/statistics/smedefs.asp.

Illegal Distilling of Liquor

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 20 May (WA 76), what conclusions they draw from the fact that there have been only three convictions for illegal distilling of liquor in the past 10 years and none since 1996.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Customs is committed to tackling all aspects of spirits fraud, and deploys resources in this area on the basis of relative risks, by far the greatest of which currently relates to diversion fraud.

House of Lords Membership

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received any representations from the Government of the Irish Republic to appoint any members of the current Irish Parliament to the House of Lords; and, if so, what was their response.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: Any recommendations for membership of your Lordships' House are strictly confidential.

Ballot Papers

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether records are kept of the numbers of pink (tendered) ballot papers at elections; and, if so, whether they intend to publish them for the local elections on 2 May.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: This information is not collected.

Elections: Personation

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 22 May (WA 99) that the Government have ''no evidence to suggest that personation is a significant problem in England, Wales or Scotland,'' whether they have considered evidence from the local elections in Birmingham on 2 May and in particular the claims on the website www.stolenvotes.org.uk relating to Washwood Heath and Small Heath Ward.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I am aware that the police in Birmingham and elsewhere are conducting investigations in connection with the local elections on 2 May. Until those investigations are over and the outcome known it would not be appropriate for me to comment.

Elections: Personation

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will consider any proposals to require electors attending polling stations in England, Scotland and Wales to provide proof of their identity, in line with the requirements that are in force in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There are no plans to extend the requirements for proof of identity when voting in Northern Ireland to the rest of the United Kingdom.

Territorial Army

Lord Redesdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many members of the Territorial Army have achieved their bounty in each of the last five training years; what were the Government's estimates for this five-year period; and what is their estimate for the current training year.

Lord Bach: The number of Territorial members who have earned their bounty in each of the last five training years (TY) is as follows:
	
		
			 TY 1997–98 TY 1998–99 TY 1999–2000 TY 2000–01 TY 2001–02 
			 32,982 31,721 26,005(1) 25,853 24,318 
		
	
	(1) The drop reflects the reduction in strength of the TA following the SDR.
	As no targets are set, the Government do not hold records that show the estimated figures for bounty earning. The bounty is used as a financial incentive to encourage members of the TA to achieve a minimum level of training.

Territorial Army

Lord Redesdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people are currently enlisted within the Territorial Army; and what are the occupational backgrounds of its members.

Lord Bach: As at 1 April 2002, the strength of the Territorial Army stood at 39,663 personnel, including those mobilised in support of operations. The occupational backgrounds of its members are too numerous to list but range from peers of the realm, through every grade of management and employee in the public and private sector, to the self-employed and unemployed.

Territorial Army

Lord Redesdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are its target wastage and fit for role rates for members of the Territorial Army for the year 2002.

Lord Bach: For the year 2002, the expected rate for wastage is 25 per cent and target rate for fit for role is 60 per cent of the total TA strength. For the year 2001–02 the actual rates were 24 per cent wastage and 59.6 per cent fit for role.

Territorial Army

Lord Redesdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many new recruits they estimated the Territorial Army would have for each of the past five years; how many new recruits there were for each of those years; how many they estimate for the year 2002; and how many there have been for the year 2002 so far.

Lord Bach: We do not hold records that show the estimated figures for new recruits into the Territorial Army for previous years; however, the estimate for 2002 is 7,750 for soldiers. A review of officer recruiting is currently being carried out which will review the estimate for potential officers. The number of new recruits for the last five calendar years and for this year so far is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Officer Soldiers 
			 1997 785 10,579 
			 1998 756 10,144 
			 1999 633 6,726(2) 
			 2000 869 7,603 
			 2001 790 7,511 
			 2002 199 1,467(3) 
		
	
	(2) Reflects the impact of the Strategic Defence Review reductions.
	(3) Figures as at 1 April 2002.
	In addition, the spring recruiting campaign has just concluded and we should see the results of this campaign when the new figures come out later this year.

NHS Trusts: Level 3 EPRs

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the target of 35 per cent of National Health Service trusts introducing level 3 electronic patient records by April 2002 will not be met; and whether they intend to take account to ensure that all NHS trusts introduce level 3 electronic patient records by the target date of 2005.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: A recent survey of progress towards level 3 EPRs presents a variable picture At present six trusts have complete hospital-wide EPR systems that meet the functionality described under level 3. However many more have some applications in place, for example results reporting and order communications. In addition, some trusts have implemented elements of EPR beyond level 3 with functionality around decision support and knowledge management of picture archiving and communications systems to support improved patient care.
	That is why we are taking action by introducing a new national programme and implementation plan for IT in the NHS. This will significantly step up the pace of getting modern IT in place to support frontline patient care and also ensure that IT both drives change and gets the best from the extra resources the NHS is now getting.
	The key points from the programme are: a new national IT programme director who will be responsible for the implementation of this programme; stringent national standards for data and IT in the NHS; an improved partnership with the IT industry and healthcare IT suppliers to increase the IT capacity for the NHS; a new procurement strategy to accelerate the impact of IT across the NHS; better central management which will include a ministerial task force chaired by Lord Hunt to ensure the advice and involvement of key healthcare professional and representative groups.
	The intention has always been to have a first generation of electronic records in use across the NHS from 2005. This will be the starting point from which the NHS can begin to apply electronic records as a clinical tool in diagnosis, treatment, interventions and healthcare. By 2008, as indicated in Delivering the NHS Plan, we will expect to see all the advanced applications and functionality of electronic patient records in all PCTs and trusts.

Learning to Listen Action Plans

Baroness Massey of Darwen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which government departments have completed their action plan drawn up under the Children and Young People's Unit document Learning to Listen: principles for the involvement of children and young people; and whether, and if so where, the plan has been published.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The plans will be completed and then published on the Children and Young People's website (www.cypu.gov.uk) and will be in the Library shortly.

Revenue Raised from Sport

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the total amount of revenue raised in the United Kingdom from sport in the financial years (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02.

Baroness Blackstone: This information is not available. Central government revenue raised from sport includes receipts from VAT, PAYE and other income taxes, corporation tax, capital gains tax and stamp duty and national insurance contributions. Local government receipts are primarily in the form of business rates, reduced where appropriate by discretionary reliefs. Receipts from these sources would need to be reduced for tax and other reliefs accorded to sports organisations by the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise to arrive at meaningful estimates of net receipts. Detailed estimates of the annual totals of these receipts and reliefs in respect of sporting organisations are not maintained.

Labour Party Manifesto Commitments

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 13th May (WA 5), how many commitments were contained in the general election manifesto of 2001 on which the Governemnt were elected.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Government were elected on their record. The contents of the manifesto were published during the campaign.

Downing Street Apartments

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Written Answer by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 9 May (WA 202) to the question "what precedents there are for use of the Prime Ministerial apartments in 10 Downing Street by wives of Prime Ministers for meetings with their business clients" gave no precedents for such use.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Ministers of this Government are not accountable for what happened under previous administrations.

e-Government: Civil Service Numbers

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of potential reductions in Civil Service manpower that will result over the next five years from putting government services on-line.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: At present there is no overall estimate for potential reductions in staff in the Civil Service resulting from e-Government plans. This is a matter for individual departments to consider and include in their business cases when implementing individual projects.